Page end indicator for typewriters



July 30, 1945.

E. F. PYETSCHAUER 7 PAGE END INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 17, 1945- ATTORNEYS Patented July 30,1946 i' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,404,861 I PAGEEND' mmcA'roR FOR TYPEWRITERS Edward F. Petschauer, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 17, 1945, Serial No. 588,854

Claims (Cl. 197189) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in page end indicators for typewriters embodying an audible signal, such as a bell, an'd mechanism to sound the bell when a predetermined point in the work sheet has been reached, such as the end of the page.

'An important object of the present invention is, to provide a page end indicator adapted to notify and warn the operator of the machine thatthe end of the page is reached or approached, thus eliminating the necessity of the operator dividing his attention between the work and the progress of the paper feeding, and also assuring a uniformity in appearance of the work sheet. v

More specifically, the invention comprises an annular member adapted for attaching to the platen shaft of the typewriter and held against rotation and having a spiral groove formed therein with a follower arranged to travel in the groove and rotated with the shaft and adapted to actuate a bell clapper when the follower or traveler reaches the end of the groove, the groove being of a length substantially to correspond to the length of a sheet of paper mounted on the platen of the typewriter.

A further object isytoprovide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, whichis efficient and'reliable in operation, which may be easily and quickly mounted in position on a typewriter without necessitating any material changes in construction or alterations therein; and which otherwise is well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the H means of a bearing sleeved secured to'theframe. An annular member or disc 9 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve and is formed with a spiral groove l0. g

A traveler or follower H has one end bent angularly and inserted in the groove [0 while the other end of the traveler indicated at I2 extends transversely through an opening in the shaft for slidable movement therein, the traveler" It also extending through a sleeve section Bw'fsecured to the shaft forrotation therewith.

A clapper !3 is pivoted to one side of the disc 9 with the end of the clapper held in engagement with a bell l4 bymeans of a coiYspring 15, said bell being secured to the sleevetw Asindicated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the clapper extends across or transversely of the groove it at its outer end in the-path offthe traveler H so that upon thetraveler reaching the outer end of the spiral groove, theclapper will be engaged for moving the same into con tact with the bell to sound the alarm.

A coil spring I6 is mounted-- on" the shaft with one end connected to the disc 9- and its other end inserted in the shaft 5 and the disc is held stationary against rotation by'the tension of the spring l6 by means of a dog ll engaging the toothed edge l8 of the disc, the dog being carried at and extending downwardly from one end of a; pivoted arm 19 attached to the upper portion of the frame I, the other end of the arm having a key 20 projecting upwardlytherefrom,

details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of a typewriter platen and with the alarm device mounted thereon and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the clapper for the bell.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the typewriter platen and the numeral 6 represents the platen shaft journaled in a carriage frame I of the typewriter by whereby a depressing movement-of the keywill cause the raising of the dog ll out of engagement with the teeth l8 of the disc and permit rotation of the disc under the influence of the spring Hi.

The end of the arm I!) provided with the dog I! is off balance so that the dog will normally gravitate into engaging position with the teeth is of the disc.

In the operation of the device, a sheet of paper is placed in the typewriter under the platen 5 into typing position and the key 20 is depressed, whereby the dog I! will be released from the teeth I8 of the disc and the spring It will rotate the disc in a direction to move the traveler I l into a position at the inner endof the spiral groove in and the typing proceeded with in its usual manner.

The rotation of the platen 5 during the progressive feeding of the paper therethrough will cause the traveler l l to move from the inner end of the spiral groove Ill toward the outer end thereof, the time required for the traveling of the traveler II from the inner end to the outer end of the groove being substantially equal to the time required for a sheet of paper to be fed through the machine.

' As the traveler approaches the outer end of the groove, the clapper I3 will be actuated to strike the bell l4 and thus sound the alarm to indicate that the end of the sheet of .paper has been reached.

As indicated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the clapper" includes ashank l3a having a pivoted inner spring biased extension l3b adapted to actuate'the clapper upon engagement by the traveler, the extension swinging backwardly with the traveler when the latter is reset.

In view of the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the article will be quite apparent to those skilled in theart. A more detailed description thereof is accordingly deemed unnecessary,

, It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described the invention, what I gaging the guide for movement thereon and adapted to engageand actuate the clapper upon reaching the outer end of the guide, spring means for rotating the disk to return the traveler to the inner end of the guide, and means securing the disk against rotation.

2. A page end alarm for typewriters comprisprising in combination a platen shaft, a disk freely mounted on the shaft and having a spiral guide on one of its faces, a bell surrounding the disk, a clapper for the bell and disposed transversely of the guide at its outer end, a traveler slidably mounted transversely of the Shaft for rotation therewith and including an angular end engaging the guide for movement thereon and adapted .to engage and actuate the clapper upon reaching the outer end of the guide, spring means for rotating the disk to return the traveler to the inner end of the guide, said disk having a toothed edge, and a manually operable dog engaging the teeth to secure the disk against rotation.

3. A page end alarm for typewriters comprising in combination a platen shaft, a disk freely mounted on the shaft and having a spiral groove therein, a bell surrounding the disk, a clapper for the bell and disposed transversely of the groove at its outer end, a traveler connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and radial movement with respect thereto, said traveler traveling in the groove and adapted to engage and actuate the clapper upon. reaching the outer end of the groove, spring means for rotating the disk to return the traveler to the inner end of the groove, and means securing the disk against idle rotation. a

4. A page end alarm for typewriters comprising in combination a platen shaft, a diskfreely mounted on the shaft and having a spiral groove therein, a bell surrounding the disk, a clapper, for the bell and disposed transversely of the groove at its outer end, a traveler connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and radial movement with respect thereto, said traveler traveling in the groove and adapted to engage and actuate the clapper upon reaching the outer end of the groove, spring means for rotating the disk to return the traveler to the inner end of the groove, said disk having a toothed edge, and amanually operable dog engaging the teeth to secure the disk against rotation.

5. A page end alarm for typewriters comprising in combination a platen shaft, a disk freely mounted on the shaft and having a spiral groove therein, a bell surrounding the disk, a clapper for the bell and disposed transversely of the groove at its outer end, aftraveler connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and radial movement with respect thereto, said traveler traveling in the groove and adapted to engage and actuate the clapper upon reaching the outer. end of the grove, spring means for rotating the disk to return the traveler to the inner end of the groove, said disk having a toothed edge,and a key EDWARD F. PETSCHAUER. 

